Saints fans saw why Mora was reluctant to pull Wade Wilson in a pathetic
loss to the Eagles.  Admittedly the conditions weren't ideal for passing,
but the backup QBs probably would have looked awful anyway.  Incredibly,
the Saints still have a decent chance at a playoff spot.


Philadelphia's first series lasted only three plays before a poor punt
into the wind went only to the NO 48.  Runs by Brad Muster and Derek Brown
moved the Saints into position for a 41 yard FG.

The Eagles reached the 45 before Wayne Martin forced a fumble, which 
Rickey Jackson recovered.  Two short runs and incomplete pass later, 
Morten Andersen nailed a 56 yarder.

Again the defense created good field position for the offense when Gene
Atkins sacked Bubby Brister on 3rd down.  The punt went only to midfield,
but Mike Buck and the offense could only manage to set up another FG, this
one from 35 yards out.  Despite the great field position, the Saints had
only nine points.

Heath Sherman's running moved the Eagles near midfield before Philadelphia
had to punt.  The ball was downed at the three, which set up a safety
caused when Buck was hit in the endzone.  Following the kick, Michael Young
broke loose and ran for a TD after catching a Brister pass to complete a
50 yard play.  Gene Atkins blocked the PAT to keep the Saints in front by 1.

On the second play of the next series Brown was hit and fumbled at the NO 41.
Some Sherman runs and a roughing the passer penalty set up a 12 yard Herschel
Walker TD catch.

A third down sack produced a 3 & punt series on the following Saint 
possession, but the Eagles also gained less than 10 yards on 3 plays.  The
punt snap was low and Torrance Small tackled the punter at the Philadelphia 
23 with about two and one-half minutes to go in the half.

Once again, the offense couldn't convert the field position into a TD, and
the Saints settled for a 37 yard FG.  The Eagles used medium-length passes
to move down the field and get a 46 yard FG just before halftime.

Steve Walsh replaced the ineffective Buck to start the second half and 
completed a 15 yard pass to Eric Martin on the first play.  He couldn't
get another first down, though, and the Saints had to punt.  Brister 
appeared to fumble (recovered by the Saints) on a 3rd and inches QB sneak
at the Philadelphia 25, but the officials blew the play dead.  The Eagles
soon punted.

On the second play of the next drive, Eric Allen picked off a Walsh pass
and ran down the sideline for an easy 33 yard TD.  Roger Ruzek missed the
extra point.

After Tyrone Hughes returned the kickoff to the 43, Floyd Turner caught
a pass over the middle and ran all the way to the three yard line.  Muster
ran it in for a TD on the next play.

Philadelphia responded with a long drive (over eight minutes, 82 yards,
including 5 3rd down conversions) ending in a 6 yard Mark Bavaro TD
reception.  Jimmy Spencer blocked the third unsuccessful Eagle PAT attempt
of the day.

With 12:27 to go in the game, Walsh & Allen teamed up on a mirror image
of the earlier TD play.  The final Saint drive ended in a punt at midfield,
and Hughes' 83 yard TD punt return interrupted Philadelphia's clock 
extermination.


There were some puzzling calls by the Saints coaching staff.  With about
a minute left in the third quarter, the team called two timeouts for no
apparent reason.  And trailing by 18 points and facing a 4th and 5 at
midfield, the Saints punted.

Injuries: Earlier in the week Reginald Jones was placed on IR (knee trouble
          that will require surgery).  Also Joel Hilgenberg will almost
          certainly miss the rest of the season with his knee injury.
          During the game Eric Martin appeared to suffer a concussion.
          Renaldo Turnbull saw a little action, but Joel Smeenge played
          most of the game. 


*******************************************************************************
Frank Serpas III